Following revelations about Qatar’s plan to overthrow the Saudi Arabian monarchy, tensions between the two countries reaches a new level over adherence to Wahhabism.

In a recent development, Saudi Arabia’s new crown prince, Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, was quoted by Al-Awamiyah website as saying that his country will not allow Qatar to replace it as a religious hub among Arab countries.

Addressing an opening ceremony of a seminar in the Saudi capital city of Riyadh last Tuesday, Prince Nayef announced that Saudi Arabia would never allow Qatar to own the religious standing of Saudi Arabia in the Arab world.

Tensions between Qatar and
Saudi Arabia rises to a new level

His remarks followed a measure by the Qatari government to name the country’s biggest mosque after Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab, the founder of the Wahhabi sect.

Analysts believe that Doha’s measure is an effort to strip Saudi Arabia of its position as the core of Wahhabism in the Arab world.

Nayef added that the Saudi government was founded on the basis of Salafism by Muhammad bin Saud, who was an ally to Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab, and Riyadh is proud of its loyalty to Salafism.

Saudi officials have noted that Qatar is preparing to enter a fierce competition with Saudi Arabia and this is why the country is trying to highlight its loyalty to Wahhabism.

Political observers believe the United States is provoking Qatar to continue a war of words with Saudi Arabia.

Last week, an audio file was published on the Internet in which Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Al Thani said the Saudi Arabian monarchy will be overthrown by Qatar very soon.

He added that Qatari troops would occupy Qatif in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province and the Al Saud regime will disintegrate.

“The regime of King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud is exhausted and powerless to control the country and the army cannot confront the future changes,” he asserted.

Sheikh Hamad said Qatar is also capable of gradually reducing the dominance of Saudi Arabia in the region and imposing itself on Arab countries.

The revelation came as people in Qatif have been staging protest rallies to demand freedom and equality over the past months.

According to an audio file which has gone viral on the Internet, the premier said Qatari troops would occupy Qatif in Eastern Province and the Al Saud regime will disintegrate. "The regime of King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud is exhausted and powerless to control the country and the army cannot confront the future changes," he asserted. The remarks were made as people in Qatif have been staging protest rallies to demand freedom and equality over the past months. The Qatari premier also revealed that the United States and Britain wanted him to report back to them on the situation in Saudi Arabia. "They want to get rid of the Saudi regime while they are afraid of any new Islamic regime in the region," Sheikh Hamad said. "Therefore, Qatar has taken advantage to transfer US military bases to its country," he added. Sheikh Hamad said Qatar also has been able to gradually reduce the dominance of Saudi Arabia in the region and impose itself on Arab countries. Qatari state-run news channel Aljazeera has refused to comment on the audio clip. Qatari officials did not confirm the report when Press TV contacted the Qatari Embassy in Tehran. This is while several Arabic-language new agencies have covered the story.